Scenes from the Battle of Flowers Parade

Updated 2:42 pm, Tuesday, March 10, 2015

SAN ANTONIO — By the time the vanguard began its three-mile jaunt down the path of Friday's Battle of Flowers parade, the clouds had burnt off and the sun beat down on most of the tens of thousands of revelers who lined the streets.

Vendors peddled their wares, and Fiesta patrons toted coolers to their seats. Some folks had staked out their spots several days ago, while others got lucky early Friday morning. While some families rented expensive hotel rooms with balconies overlooking the route, others erected canopies on the sidewalks — the only cost being their time.

Along the route, the raucous and jovial crowd of mostly San Antonians represented a diverse cross-section of their city. Here are their stories:

9 a.m. Broadway, between 8th Street and Brooklyn Avenue

Lifelong San Antonio residents Gabriel and Jeanette Quintero, a married couple in their 50s, have been coming to the Battle of Flowers parade every year, save the three when Gabriel was enlisted in the Army.

Past experiences have led them to believe they have one of the best spots on the parade route — a slightly elevated lot directly across from the Cavender Cadillac dealership downtown. They usually arrive around 8 a.m. to stake their claim.

“We're close to the food, the potties are just around the corner, we found free parking, and it's easy to get to our car and leave after,” Gabriel explained. “I remember one year the (Dallas) Cowboys cheerleaders stopped right here to perform, too.”

9:20 a.m. Broadway, Maverick Park

He was about 4 — maybe 5 years old — the first time Roland Sanchez remembers making the trip from the East Side to downtown with his parents for the parade. Now 62, he said plenty has changed over the years, most noticeably the increased restrictions on camping out for the best spot.

“You can't fight 'em,” he said of the rules. “You have to outsmart 'em.”

Sanchez and his neighbor decided to work overnight security for another friend who was operating a food booth near the park. That enabled them to mosey over to Maverick Park at 5 a.m. to set up their tent and barbecue pit.

10 a.m., Broadway, outside San Antonio Bike Shop

Chris Kretschmer, a bicycle mechanic and slam poet, was joined Friday by his dog Ginger, also known as Noodle, a Tibetan spaniel and retired show dog.

Both sported necklaces to show off Fiesta spirit — recycled Mardi Gras beads left over from a celebration in the late 1980s, when Kretschmer was in the Navy.

“I gave her the peace-sign necklace because she's such a peaceful dog,” he said while holding the pup like a baby.

11:30 a.m., Alamo Plaza, Judges' Stand

With four replica NBA championship rings on one hand, Rudy Sifeuntes, the self-labeled Spurs NBA King, sauntered up and down the street in front of the Alamo, wearing a silver cape, a silver crown, a Spurs jersey and a few dozen Fiesta medals.

Arriving downtown mid-morning, the 78-year-old said he picked his outfit with a specific goal in mind.

“I like to amuse people,” Sifeuntes said. “That's why I got here early — because I knew people would want to take pictures with me. I live alone, so I like to get out, and I like to make people smile any way I can.”

12:30 p.m., Alamo Plaza

John Sanchez is a self-described “parade groupie” who's been a spectator and eventual organizer for 50 years. Though he's traveled the country specifically for parades, it's San Antonio's culture that's dearest to him.

“It's the one week of the year that all of San Antonio's cultures get together and have fun,” he said.

1 p.m., Alamo Plaza

Standing along the parade route in Alamo Plaza with a sausage-on-a-stick in one hand and a corn dog in the other, Austin Lovett absorbed the sights and sounds of the parade beneath the blazing sun.

He spent the day navigating through the crowd of parade watchers with his two friends, drinking and eating. Dressed in bright colors and wearing beads around his neck, Lovett counted the different concessions he ate at while on the way to Alamo Plaza.

With a terrific view of the parade, Laura Moorman enjoyed the Battle of Flowers Parade Friday with friends and family from the balcony of the third floor of the Menger Hotel.

Moormon, the wife of former Rackspace President Lew Moormon, said her husband's family has rented the hotel room for the past 50 years. Children scurried around, cracking cascarones on each other while the adults shared stories from times past as the colorful floats and marching bands paraded by.

“It's a great place to enjoy family and friends and watch the parade in comfort,” Moormon said.